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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Jan 10, 2019 21:56:02 GMT -5
Wandered around some street work today. Saw a different looking rock in a dirt pile. Knocked a corner off it. It looks like solid Pyrite.
That's a 4" scale in front of it, and it weighs 23 lbs. Now I have to figure out why I brought it home... . |
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Post by fernwood on Jan 11, 2019 5:50:11 GMT -5
Cool find. If solid pyrite, it is a very nice specimen.
You brought it home because it showed potential.
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Jan 11, 2019 9:30:22 GMT -5
After this chunk dried off some of the chipped areas lost the brassy color. Looks like it might have been some lead/zinc ore that was hauled out on the old rail line where the street is now located. Still has some bright pyrite spots, but isn't uniformly magnetic.
At least I didn't already have one like it in the rockpile here... . |
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Post by mohs on Jan 11, 2019 12:03:36 GMT -5
right on Vince
a chunk of heavy metal
Mineralized area !
Cool find
Maybe the mother lode is close?
Hope so!
Mohs
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2019 13:59:40 GMT -5
Pyrite isn't magnetic, but you are right that there are other possibilities including nickel (which is magnetic), cobalt, magnetite, ores containing these or iron (e.g., pyrrhotite), or one of the paramagnetic metals with weak magnetic response (e.g., magnesium, molybdenum, tantalum). What did they mine in your area? It will be interesting to see how it weathers over the next year or two in your yard or pile. I have a nice chunk of heavy mixed metallics sitting next to my workstation that I may never get around to ID'ing. I have no excuse for it taking up space for years, other than I find it fascinating enough that I can't seem to toss it.
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Post by vegasjames on Jan 11, 2019 16:45:56 GMT -5
Pyrite isn't magnetic, but you are right that there are other possibilities including nickel (which is magnetic), cobalt, magnetite, ores containing these or iron (e.g., pyrrhotite), or one of the paramagnetic metals with weak magnetic response (e.g., magnesium, molybdenum, tantalum). What did they mine in your area? It will be interesting to see how it weathers over the next year or two in your yard or pile. I have a nice chunk of heavy mixed metallics sitting next to my workstation that I may never get around to ID'ing. I have no excuse for it taking up space for years, other than I find it fascinating enough that I can't seem to toss it. The closely related pyrrhotite is magnetic though. |
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NRG
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,688
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Post by NRG on Jan 11, 2019 19:12:25 GMT -5
Nickel is magnetic?
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Post by vegasjames on Jan 12, 2019 2:28:53 GMT -5
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